Symptoms Of Acute Bronchitis

Treating Acute Bronchitis

acute bronchitis symptoms There are two types of bronchitis. Viral bronchitis is caused by organisms that invade the respiratory system - either a virus or bacteria. This type is considered to be "acute" bronchitis because it comes on quickly but is also gone quickly - anywhere from a few days to two weeks.

The other type is chronic bronchitis. It results from long term exposure to pollutants and irritants like cigarette smoke, dust in the air, and toxic gases or chemicals in the atmosphere. Chronic bronchitis is a serious long term disease, and there is no cure.

Symptoms of acute bronchitis Acute bronchitis symptoms are very similar to chronic bronchitis symptoms. They can also resemble the symptoms of other respiratory disorders and lung diseases, so you usually need a professional diagnosis to tell the difference.

Coughing is one of the most prominent symptoms of acute bronchitis. The cough usually begins during or after a respiratory problem like a cold or the flu. For this reason, many people don't recognize their symptoms as bronchitis.

This cough often - but not always - produces sputum. This sputum has been variously described as clear, white, grayish-white or greenish-yellow in color. When it is greenish-yellow or a dark shade of gray, it usually means your infection comes from bacteria.

Your cough may persist for several weeks, even after other symptoms of bronchitis have passed.

You may experience some chest discomfort that can best be described as a feeling of congestion and soreness.

Throat pain and constriction is also a common acute bronchitis symptom.

A mild fever, somewhere around 101 degrees F or 38.3 degrees C, is typical.

You're likely to experience some breathing difficulties, including shortness of breath and wheezing. This is especially true after mild exertion or physical activity.

Individuals with acute bronchitis tend to tire easily. They have little energy.

Certain conditions and factors will tend to make signs and symptoms of acute bronchitis worse. These include:

Air pollution like factory smoke, dust, or volcanic ash.
Allergens that saturate the air at certain times of the year.
Certain jobs that put you in contact with a lot of lung ailments, such as coal mining, textile manufacturing, or grain handling.
Secondary infections caused by other respiratory problems.

Certain groups of individuals are at additional risk when they have acute bronchitis. These include

older persons, infants, toddlers and young children
those who have other health challenges, especially heart disease or lung disease
those who smoke

If symptoms of acute bronchitis are not treated, it's possible to develop pneumonia as a result.

Smokers sometimes don't know they are developing bronchitis. They think acute symptoms are simply a side effect of smoking for a long time. If you're a regular smoker, and you develop a persistent cough, you should have yourself checked to see if it's a symptom of bronchitis. See related information on smoking and lung cancer, and smoker's cough.

Treating acute bronchitis If you experience repeated acute bronchitis symptoms, it's important to see your doctor. You may be developing chronic bronchitis or other respiratory disorders like asthma or bronchiectasis (stretching of the air passages).

The first thing your doctor will do is listen for congestion. He or she may recommend X-rays and a sputum culture.

A pulmonary function test helps rule out other respiratory disorders and diseases. The doctor will use a device called a spirometer, which measures the amount of air you take into your lungs and how quickly you breathe it out.

Since acute bronchitis usually goes away without treatment, your doctor will focus on relieving discomfort from your symptoms and easing your breathing.

Normally, your doctor will advise against cough suppressants because coughing helps rid your system of sputum and congestion. However, a cough suppressant may be in order if you're coughing so much it keeps you awake at night.

Acetaminophen or aspirin will help keep a fever down. Talk to your doctor before giving aspirin to children, however.

Search the web for more information on symptoms of acute bronchitis by typing a relevant keyword or phrase in the search box below.